Tank flushing apparatus



May 18, 1965 M. AARON 3,133,526

TANK FLUSHING APPARATUS 3 Filed Oct. 30, 1963 FIG. M

I H as FIG. 2 [V6.3

INVENTOR.

MA UR/CE AARON A T TORNE V United States Patent 3,183,526 TANK FLUSHING APPARATUS Maurice Aaron, 16 Hamlin Road, Highland Park, NJ. Filed Oct. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 320,195 11 Claims. (Cl. 4-47) This invention relates to fluid-containing tanks and, particularly, to flush valves for tanks such as toilet tanks.

Flushing apparatus for toilet tanks commonly includes an outlet pipe which is blocked by a ball-type stopper which is known as .a tank ball. The tank ball is supported by and operated by a series of rods and linkages by which it is raised from its seat in the outlet pipe to permit water to flow out of the tank. After the tank has emptied, the ball falls into place in the outlet pipe and the tank tfills for the next flushing operation. Some of the mechanical elements, which support the tank ball, are subject to wear and deterioration due to their immersion in water, and eventually, the ball valve fails to operate properly and water leakage results.

The prior art includes patents which describe many types of apparatus for avoiding these problems. However, none of the solutions offered by the prior art has been widely accepted by industry. This may be ecause the prior art suggestions are comparatively complex and expensive and because they are not substantially directly replaceable in apparatus which is in use. :In fact, in some cases, major modifications are required in the water tank itself.

One form of prior art apparatus, which purports to solve the problems of tank ball operation, replaces the tank ball and its associated mechanical members with a siphon-controlled mechanism. However, this type of apparatus is also subject to many criticisms. For example, the siphon action is relatively diflicult to initiate, and, once the siphon begins to operate, it tends to function intermittently. In addition, any jar-ring of the apparatus, during operation, tends, to break the siphon action and stop the operation.

Accordingly, the objects of the present invention are concerned with the provision of improved apparatus for draining a fluid-containing tank, the apparatus being characterized by its simplicity, its efliciency, its small number of working par-ts, its low cost, and its compatibility with apparatus generally in use.

Briefly, the apparatus of the invention is employed in a fluid-containing tank which includes a fluid outlet pipe at the bottom thereof. A suitable fluid inlet pipe is also provided. A valve means comprising an elongated, flexible, open-ended tube is mounted vertically in the tank with one end secured to the fluid outlet pipe, and with its upper open end positioned just above the level of fluid in the tank. At this upper end, the tube is provided with a cup which is adapted to be filled with fluid during the tank-flushing operation. The cup is also provided with aperture means for draining the fluid therefrom after the tank-draining operation has been performed to permit the tube to return to its upright position and to prepare it for the next flushing operation.

In operation of the invention, when it is desired to drain the tank containing the invention, a downward pressure is exerted on the upper end of the flexible tube by any suitable means so that the upper end of the tube is just below the upper level of the fluid in the tank. :Fluid pours into the cup, and the tube is driven downwardly, collapsing on itself and permitting the fluid in the tank to flow through the collapsed tube and out of the tank through the outlet pipe. After the tank has drained, the

fluid in the cup flows out of the means provided for that purpose and out of the tank, water then entering the tank in normal fashion, providing a buoyant force on the cup port-ion of the tube and raising the tube as the fluid fills the tank. The tank and the drain tube are thus ready for the next flushing operation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of apparatus embodying the invention;

-FIG. 2 is a plan View of the apparatus of the invention as it appears in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3--3 in FIG. 2.

The apparatus of the invention has broad utility and may be employed in many different types of fluid-contain ing tanks. It is especially suited for use in water containing toilet tanks, and it is this use of the invention that is described in detail herein. Generally, a toilet tank comprises a container 10 having a bottom wall 14 which contains a fluid outlet pipe 18. The tank also contains a conventional overflow pipe (not shown) and a conventional water inlet pipe .24 which may be controlled by the usual ball-operated valve. When the tank 10 is flushed, water is expelled through the outlet pipe 18.

The flushing apparatus of the invention includes an open-ended, hollow, flexible tube 30 which is oriented vertically and has its lower end 34 secured to the fluid outlet pipe 18 and its upper open end positioned just above the surface of the water 38 in the tank. The tube 39 is intended to be collapsed and expanded, in accordion fashion over outlet pipe 18, .and, to facilitate this function and keep the tube open .as it collapses, a plurality of rigid reinforcing rings 42 are positioned inside the tube, spaced apart convenient distances along the length of the tube.

The tube 30 is made of rubber or any other suitable resilient material so that it can perform the desired expansion and contraction along its axis.

The hollow tube 30 is secured at its lower end to the outlet pipe 18. Any suitable securing arrangement may be employed. As an example, the lower end 34 of the tube 30 may be of a smaller diameter than the open end of the pipe, and it may thus firmly engage a lip 48 formed on the pipe. A clamp (not shown) may also be used, if required.

At the upper end of the tube 30 is provided a cup 50 which is defined by an outer annular vertical wall 54 and a spaced inner annular vertical wall 58 which are connected by a horizontal base portion 60. The annular space 64 between both Walls serves as a fluid-containing cup. The cup may be circular or oval, or it may have any other suitable shape.

According to the invention, means are provided for removing water firom the cup 50 at the end of a flushing operation to permit tube 30 to function in normal fashion. The simplest and preferred means comprises a plurality of holes 68 in the inner wall 58, at its base, the holes providing communication between the fluid-containing space 6'4 between the walls and the inside of the tube 30.

The cup may be formed integral with the upper end of the tube, or it may include a central tubular portion 72 having a lip 78 which is engaged by the upper open end of the tube 30. The cup is made of rubber or other suitable material.

Means are provided for applying downward pressure on the tube 30 and causing it to collapse from its normally upright position. In one suitable arrangement, which permits use of the conventional trip lever usually found in flush tanks, this means includes a T-shaped bracket 80 which carries a threaded stud 84 positioned over the longitudinal axis of the tube 30. A rod 88 is secured at one end in the stud 84, and at the other end, it is threadedly secured to a spider 90 which itself. is secured in the outlet pipe 18. The threaded engagement of rod 88 in spider 9t) permits vertical adjustment of the cup 54 with respect to the level of water'in the tank 10. The main body of the T-shaped bracket has a U-shaped cross-section (FIG. 3) defined by spaced walls 92 and 94. A pair of elongated arms 98 are pivotally secured to opposed ends of the T-shaped bracket 80. The arms each include one end 100 which is curved upwardly and is pivotally secured to a plate 104. The opposite ends res of each arm bear against the top edge of the cup.

The plate 104 is secured by a rod, flexible cable or chain 116 to a conventional horizontal trip lever arm IMP-which may be suitably coupled to the usual handoperated trip lever (not shown) employed in operating the flushing apparatus of toilet tanks.

In operation of the invention, initially, the tank 10 is filled withwater to a suitable level, and the tube 30 is in an expended upright position, with the top of the cup positioned above the level of the water by adjustment of rod 88 in spider 90. At this time, the ends 106 of the arms 98 bear against the top of the cup. When it is desired to flush the tank, the trip lever (not shown) is operated and the arm 120 is raised. As the arm 120 is raised, it raises the plate 104, and this causes the arms 98 to rotate about their pivot connections to bracket 80 and to apply downward pressure on the cup.

This pressure on the cup causes the tube 30 to collapse slowly until the top edge of the cup falls below the level of the water, and Water fills the cup. This causes the tube 30 to collapse completely over outlet pipe 18, and, as it does, the water in the tank flows through the tube and out of the tank 10 through the outlet pipe 18.

When the tank 10 is empty, the water in the cup flows out of the cup through the holes 68 and out of the outlet pipe. Then, as water flows into the tank 10 through the inlet pipe, both the buoyant force of the water and the natural resiliency of the tube 30 cause the tubeto expand and rise to its normal upright state. The tank fills to its normal level just below the top of the cup, and the tank is ready for the next flushing operation. If the holes 68 were not provided, water could not be removed from the cup and the tube 30 would not rise to permit a subsequent flushing operation.

Of course, other mechanical arrangements could be provided to depress the tube and start the flushing operation.

Among the many advantages of the invention is the advantage that the holes 68 which drain cup 50 provide simple means to positively drain the cup. The holes are positive and fast-acting. In addition, it can be seen that the apparatus of the invention has few moving parts, is simple in construction, replaces many parts now in use, but can operate with the conventional trip lever.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for flushing a fluid-containing tank which includes a fluid outlet pipe, said apparatus comprising a vertically elongated tube positioned in said tank having an open lower end adapted to be secured to said fluid outlet pipe and rising vertically therefrom,

said tube also having an upper open end adapted to be normally positioned above the level of fluid in said tank, said tube being of a flexible material so that it can be collapsed and expanded in accordion fashion,

said tube being adapted to be collapsed when it is desired to empty said tank by allowing the fluid in the tankto escape from the tank through said tube,

said tube being vertically expanded and raised when it is desired to fill and retain fluid in the tank,

a fluid container at the upper end of said tube,

said fluid container including a plurality of apertures which provide fluid communication between the container and the tube so that fluid remaining in the container, while the tube is collapsed and after the,

tank has been emptied, is free to flow through said apertures intothe tube and into the outlet pipe whereby the container is emptied and its buoyancy is restored and it and the tube can be raised to their vertical expandedIposition when the tank is once again filled with fluid.

2. Apparatus for flushing a fluid-containing tank which includes a fluid outlet pipe, said apparatus comprising a vertically elongated tube positioned in said tank having an open lower end adapted to be secured to said fluid outlet pipe and rising vertically therefrom, said tube also having an upper open end adapted to be normally positioned above the level of'fluid in said'tank,

said tube being of a flexible material so that it can be collapsed and expanded in accordion fashion,

said tube being adaptedto be collapsed when it is de sired to empty said tank by allowing the fluid in the tank to escape from the tank through said tube, said tube being vertically expanded and raised when it is desired to fill and retain fluid in the tank,

a fluid container at the upper end of said tube,

said fluid container comprising a cup and including a plurality of apertures which provide fluid communication between the cup and the tube'so that fluid remaining in the cup, while the tube is collapsed and after the tank has been emptied, is free to flow through'said apertures into the tube and into the outlet pipe whereby the cup is emptied and its buoyancy is restored and it and the tube can be raised to their vertical position when the tank is ,once again filled with fluid.

3. Apparatus for flushing a fluid-containing tank which includes a fluid outlet pipe, said apparatuscompring a vertically elongated tube positioned in said tank havingan open lower end adapted to be secured to said fluid outlet pipe and rising vertically therefrom, said tube also having an upper open end adapted to be normally positioned above the level of fluid in said tank,

said tube being of a flexible material so that it can be collapsed and expanded in accordion fashion,

said tube being adapted to be collapsed when it is desired to empty said tank by allowing the fluid in the tank to escape from the tank through said tube, said tube being vertically expandediand raised when it is desired to fill and retain fluid in the tank,

a fluid container at the upper end of said tube,

said fluid container comprising a cup having an inner wall and an outer wall and including a plurality of apertures which provide fluid communication between the cup and the tube so that fluid remaining in the cup, while the tube is collapsed and after the tank has been emptied,'is free to flow through said apertures into the tube and into the outlet pipe whereby the cup container is emptied and its buoyancy is restored and it and the tube can be raised to its vertical position when the tank is once again filled with fluid.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said plurality of apertures are provided in the inner wall of said cup.

5. The apparatus defined in claim3 wherein the inner wall of said cup is substantially aligned with the flow path through said tube and. the plurality of apertures are provided in said inner wall'and oriented substantially on a common horizontal axis. Y

6. Apparatus for flushing a fluid-containing tank which includes a fluid outlet pipe, said apparatus comprising a vertically elongated tube positioned in said'tank having an open lower end adapted to be secured to said fluid outlet pipe and rising vertically therefrom, said tube also having an upper open end adapted to be normally positioned above the level of fluid in said tank,

said tube being of a flexible material so that it can be collapsed and expanded in accordion fashion,

said tube being adapted to be collapsed when it is desired to empty said tank by allowing the fluid in the tank to escape from the tank through said tube, said tube being vertically expanded and raised when it is desired to fill and retain fluid in the tank,

a cup-shaped fluid container at the upper end of said tube,

said cup-shaped fluid container including a plurality of apertures which provide fluid communication between the cup and the tube so that fluid remaining in the cup, while the tube is collapsed and after the tank has been emptied, is free to flow through said apertures into the tube and into the outlet pipe whereby the cup-shaped container can be emptied and its buoyancy restored and it and the tube can be raised to their vertical position when the tank is once again filled with fluid,

and means coupled to said tube for depressing the same and causing fluid to drain out of the tank through the tube.

7. Apparatus for flushing a fluid-containing tank which includes a fluid outlet pipe, said apparatus comprising a vertically elongated tube positioned in said tank having an open lower end adapted to be secured to said fluid outlet pipe and rising vertically therefrom, said tube also having an upper open end adapted to be normally positioned above the level of fluid in said tank,

said tube being of a flexible material so that it can be collapsed and expanded in accordion fashion,

a cup-shaped fluid container at the upper end of said tube,

said tube being adapted to be collapsed when it is desired to empty said tank by allowing the fluid in the tank to escape from the tank through said tube, said tube being vertically expanded and raised when it is desired to fill and retain fluid in the tank,

said fluid container including a plurality of apertures which provide fluid communication between the cup shaped container and the tube so that fluid remaining in the cup-shaped container, while the tube is collapsed and after the tank has been emptied, is free to flow through said apertures into the tube and into the outlet pipe whereby the cup-shaped container can be emptied and its buoyancy restored and it and the tube can be raised to their vertical position when the tank is once again filled with fluid,

and means coupled to said tube to adjust the height of the cup-shaped fluid container thereof with respect to the level of fluid in which it is operated.

8. Flushing apparatus comprising a fluid-containing tank,

a fluid outlet pipe in said tank,

a vertically elongated tube positioned in said tank having an open lower end secured to said fluid outlet pipe and rising vertically therefrom, said tube also having an upper open end adapted to be normally positioned above the level of fluid in said tank,

said tube being of a flexible material so that it can be collapsed and expanded in accordion fashion,

said tube being adapted to be collapsed when it is desired to empty said tank by allowing the fluid in the tank to escape from the tank through said tube, said tube being vertically expanded and raised when it is desired to fill and retain fluid in the tank,

a cup-shaped fluid container at the upper end of said tube,

said cup-shaped fluid container including a plurality of apertures which provide fluid communication between the cup and the tube so that fluid remaining in the cup-shaped container, while the tube is collapsed and after the tank has been emptied, is free to flow through said apertures into the tube and into the outlet pipe whereby the cup-shaped container can be emptied and its buoyancy restored and it and the tube can be raised to their vertical position when the tank is once again filled with fluid,

mechanical means in contact with said tube to depress the same and cause fluid to flow therethrough from the tank in which the tube is mounted,

and auxiliary means coupled between said mechanical means and said tube for adjusting the height thereof.

9. Flushing apparatus comprising a fluid-containing tank,

a fluid outlet pipe in said tank,

a vertically elongated tube positioned in said tank having an open lower end secured to said fluid outlet pipe and rising vertically therefrom, said tube also having an upper open end adapted to be normally positioned above the level of fluid in said tank,

said tube being of a flexible material so that it can be collapsed and expanded in accordion fashion,

a cup-shaped fluid container at the upper end of said tube,

said cup-shaped fluid container including a plurality of apertures which provide fluid communication between the cup and the tube so that fluid in the cup is free to flow into the tube and into the outlet pipe during operation of the apparatus,

mechanical means in contact with said tube to depress the same and cause fluid to flow therethrough from the tank in which the tube is mounted,

and auxiliary means coupled between said mechanical means and said tube for adjusting the height thereof,

said mechanical means including an arm resting on said cup shaped container and said auxiliary means comprising an adjustable rod coupled between said arm and a portion of said tube.

10. Flushing apparatus comprising a fluid-containing tank,

a fluid outlet pipe in said tank,

a vertically elongated tube positioned in said tank having an open lower end secured to said fluid outlet pipe and rising vertically therefrom, said tube also having an upper open end adapted to be normally positioned above the level of fluid in said tank,

said tube being of a flexible material so that it can be collapsed and expanded in accordion fashion,

a cup-shaped fluid container at the upper end of said tube,

said cup-shaper fluid container including a plurality of apertures which provide fluid communication between the cup and the tube so that fluid in the cup is free to flow into the tube and into the outlet pipe during operation of the apparatus,

mechanical means in contact with said tube to depress the same and cause fluid to flow therethrough from the tank in which the tube is mounted,

and auxiliary means coupled between said mechanical means and said tube for adjusting the height thereof,

said mechanical means including an arm resting on said cup-shaped container and said auxiliary means comprising a rod secured to said mechanical means at one end and adjustably secured to said outlet pipe at its other end.

11. Flushing apparatus comprising a fluid-containing tank,

a fluid outlet pipe in said tank,

a vertically elongated tube positioned in said tank having an open lower end secured'to said fluid outlet pipe and rising vertically therefrom, said tube also having an upper open end adapted to be normally positioned above the level of fluid in said tank,

said tube being of a flexible material so that it can be collapsed and expanded in accordion fashion,

a cup-shaped fluid container at the upper end of said tube,

said cup-shaped fluid container including a plurality of apertures which provide fluid communication between i8. I 7 References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 815,661 3/06 Vissing 74-18 5 2,373,680 4/45 Hawl y 9244 2,394,094 2/46 Nichol 4--206 amcal 2,828,769 4/ 53 Cooper 92--42 ereof, FOREIGN PATENT WW W WWW WW WWWWW 

1. APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING A FLUID-CONTAINING TANK WHICH INCLUDES A FLUID OUTLET PIPE, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A VERTICALLY ELONGATED TUBE POSITIONED IN SAID TANK HAVING AN OPEN LOWER END ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO SAID FLUID OUTLET PIPE AND RISING VERTICALLY THEREFROM, SAID TUBE ALSO HAVING AN UPPER OPEN END ADAPTED TO BE NORMALLY POSITIONED ABOVE THE LEVEL OF FLUID IN SAID TANK, SAID TUBE BEING OF A FLEXIBLE MATERIAL SO THAT IT CAN BE COLLAPSED AND EXPANDED IN ACCORDION FASHION, SAID TUBE BEING ADAPTED TO BE COLLAPSED WHEN IT IS DESIRED TO EMPTY SAID TANK BY ALLOWING THE FLUID IN THE TANK TO ESCAPE FROM THE TANK THROUGH SAID TUBE, SAID TUBE BEING VERTICALLY EXPANDED AND RAISED WHEN IT IS DESIRED TO FILL AND RETAIN FLUID IN THE TANK, A FLUID CONTAINER AT THE UPPER END OF SAID TUBE, SAID FLUID CONTAINER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF APERTURES WHICH PROVIDE FLUID COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE CONTAINER AND THE TUBE SO THAT FLUID REMAINING IN THE CONTAINER, WHILE THE TUBE IS COLLAPSED AND AFTER THE 